LENTEN READINGS AND REFLECTIONS

DAY 15

Reading: John 1:1-4:54

If this is the first time you've read the New Testament, especially the four Gospels, all the way through, then you may have noticed that John is something altogether different than Matthew, Mark, and Luke.

Most scholars believe that John wrote his gospel much later than the other three gospel writers, probably toward the end of his life and the end of the first century. John was the youngest of Jesus' disciples. He may not have reached the age of 20 when he first met Jesus and became his follower.

Jesus died and rose again at the age of 33 (about 30AD). At the time of the resurrection, John would probably have been in his early 20's. Most scholars believe the Gospel of John was written sometime in the mid to late 90's which would mean that St. John was in his mid to late eighties.

The reason all this is important is that it helps explain why the Gospel of John is so different.

John may well have read the other three gospels and been led by the Lord to do something a bit different.

John doesn't tell the story of Jesus' life in chronological order, from the first event to the last. Notice, the cleansing of the temple is found in the second chapter of John's gospel while the other three place the cleansing, chronologically, during the last week before his crucifixion.

This is not a contradiction.

John is not trying to give us a strait up ordered account from first to last. The other gospels have already done that.

John is far more interested that we come to a true understanding of who Jesus is. So he arranges the various stories and miraculous events in such a way that as you read you become increasingly aware of Jesus' identity and his glory. John wants you to know Jesus like he knows Jesus.

John provides an intensely personal book about his Lord. He wants you and I to come to a full knowledge and love of Jesus as both God and man; as healer, worker of wonders, and redeemer; as King and as friend. John's gospel is an invitation to feast on the Lord.

Keep the feast.

As you work your way through the gospel of John this week, ask the Lord to draw you in; to open your eyes to new aspects of his personality and character. Ask him to reveal himself to you more fully with every passage and every chapter. Feast on the Lord and enjoy him.

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